Gabby Smith of MND scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Cougars to a 66-51 win over         

photo by Chris Zaphiris 

Saturday, March 8, 2008

MND, West Advance To State Title Game

Cougars, Firebirds dominant in Final Four

Mount Notre Dame and Lakota West will end their seasons the way they started it after rolling through the Division I state semifinals on Friday night at Value City Arena in Columbus.

Lakota West dropped Youngstown Boardman 62-42 in the first game of the night and Mount Notre Dame followed with another dominant performance in a 66-51 win over Toledo Central Catholic.

 

Recently named Ohio Ms. Basketball Amber Gray scored 20 points and junior forward Alexis Rogers added 13 points to lead Lakota West.  Four MND players scored in double figures to lead the Cougars led by junior Gabby Smith (20), junior forward Kendall Hackney (19) and seniors Tia McBride (11) and Channing Hillman (10).

 

With both teams winning, it will mark the first time that two Cincinnati girls’ teams will play each other in the state finals.  It also sets up a rematch between the two-time defending state champion Cougars (25-2) and Lakota West (26-1).  The Firebirds defeated MND 61-55 in the season opener.

 

Because of severe snowstorms across the state, the championship game has been moved to Monday night at 8:30 p.m. at Value City Arena.

 

Mount Notre Dame will be playing in their fifth straight title game and will be going for its fourth state title in five years while Lakota West is making their first-ever state appearance.  The Cougars could win a state record third straight Division I title.

 

MND comes into the title game riding a 23-game winning streak.  Their last loss was to Kentucky powerhouse Lexington Catholic 81-67 back on Dec. 1.  West is riding a 12-game winning streak after losing their only game of the season to Division III power South Euclid Regina on Jan. 19.

 
 

Advertising | About Us | Subscribe | Contact Us |
Copyright © 2006-07 ReachUSA/Hacks Sports.
A ReachUSA Company. All Rights Reserved.

 www.reacheventmarketing.com		 Reach Event Marketing is a full-service event marketing company that specializes in organizing, marketing and promoting regional and national events. REM offers strategic marketing expertise at the grassroots level including advertising, sponsorship and hospitality packages, ticket sales management, and promotion.